I stumbled across this event when searching for a rare summer Half Marathon. The Half Marathon at this mid-August event is the first leg of an eight-day 100 Mile Waterloo-area torturefest that includes:

I entered just stage 1 for this time around. My result wasn't notable in itself but this race is worth a mention as it was my first forray into a ridiculous weeklong event that I will likely dive further into in a future year as it was a very well-staged community event with a great group of organizers and runners.

The start was about as good as one could hope for in August - 20 degrees Celsius and cloudy, good for August but likely not conditions for a Personal Best (PB) time.

I started off quick enough to allow a PB should the clouds prevail and it was my day but I soon found out almost immediately the course was all hills:

The small group quickly got itself organized. I was passed for the last time for some time aound 3K but consistently pulled in a runner every K or so and then a group of 4 at 11K. Along with the hills came other staples of the area:

I started to fall off pace around 15K. With frequent and occasionally steep hills, it is tough to offset the time lost on inclines. Along with the increasing fatigue, I could feel the impact of not having done many long high-intensity runs in the hot weather and I could feel my stride started to shorten. Around 17K I was fading and was passed by the only two runners to pass me beyond 3K.

I kept these two runners within view to the end. The gentleman who passed me took second among single stage runners, while the young lady was part of the weeklong event. I finished 3rd of 30 single day runners in 1:40:29, 81 seconds off a PB, a reasonable result for a hot day and a hilly course. But before you get too impressed with the 3/30 placement, consider that 16 of 40 in the weeklong event also beat me while taking it easy enough to race 87 miles more to race over the remainder of the week.

Great spread to go along with massages, a safe course, a very acomplished group of runners from throughout Eastern Canada and the Northeast US and a great vibe - all for cheap with lots of money leftover for charity. Many other races could learn a thing or two by checking out this event:

Next up was the Detroit Marathon in October. But I will be back in a future year for a larger dose of this event.

timc wrote:I registered for the half. It's a local run for me, and I see the paraphernalia at all the local Waterloo Running Series events. Someday, maybe I'll even be brave enough to run more than one stage.

Awesome Tim. My first EndurRun event was the Half Last year. I'm not from the area but saw a $25 Half versus the $75 and $85 elsewhere.

It turned out to be a great event. If you are from the area, you might really like this.

timc wrote:I registered for the half. It's a local run for me, and I see the paraphernalia at all the local Waterloo Running Series events. Someday, maybe I'll even be brave enough to run more than one stage.

timc wrote:I registered for the half. It's a local run for me, and I see the paraphernalia at all the local Waterloo Running Series events. Someday, maybe I'll even be brave enough to run more than one stage.

How did you like it Tim?

Amazing! Especially the part where I PB'd.

I knew it was a great event, and it's local to me. The runners and volunteers are all great, and there is a wonderful spirit around the whole thing. I wish I could have run the whole thing. There was plenty of support on the run, and the weather was gorgeous. The food afterwards was great. I follow their group on Facebook, and the ultimate runners are like family.

timc wrote:I need to convince the wife to "let me" do the whole week next year.

I have to admit that I've been thinking I should have done the week this year. I've thought this as competing in the 3-day has me watching the news and results closely. But the 3-day will work out well - if it near breaks me, I was in the right competition.

Hope you had a good run this morning. My trail run today took me near the race course, and I even saw a couple of runners from a distance. I thought the trail was hilly, I can't imagine what the ski hills were like!

Absolutely punishing. 20 ascents of the hill was at least 17 too many. I was ridiculously slow at points. But a tough course for all, while I couldn't even muster an average pace of 7:00/K for the day, that was good enough for 2nd in the Men's Sport Series. 3:00:52 for 25.6K.

We'll see if I can hold that position. 3rd and 4th place runners look to be in great shape, one of them looked young and they both had much better PB times than I on the Profile Page for the race.

So I will keep up my Maniac effort and decent pacing and we'll see if I can hang on to 2nd. 1st place is 16+ minutes ahead of me and runs a 10K 3 minutes quicker than I and a marathon 20 mintues quicker than I. So no chance at 1st.

On the books for 2017:50th Birthday!!Boston Marathon- April 17th what a day- DREAM COME TRUE Run for Water 10K- May 28thScotia Half - June 25thTrail River Run half marathon- Sept. 30- CANCELLEDMEC 10K Race 10- Nov. 5

On the books for 2017:50th Birthday!!Boston Marathon- April 17th what a day- DREAM COME TRUE Run for Water 10K- May 28thScotia Half - June 25thTrail River Run half marathon- Sept. 30- CANCELLEDMEC 10K Race 10- Nov. 5

I lost 2nd and possibly 3rd today. Not much I could do - one of the guys behind me ran quicker than my PB time on his tired legs in the 10k time trial. 49:49 for me for 10k today. I couldn't get my legs moving quick today. That's OK - an extra minute today could cost five tomorrow. Hilly sunny road marathon up next.

I think I initially created this thread to discuss this event. After doing the three-stage event, I wholeheartedly agree with participant Paul Mora, who states in his blog:

"If you are a runner, and you want to challenge yourself in an environment which treats you like an elite, you MUST DO THIS EVENT!"

Everything about this event was first rate. The format just adds to it - Getting an unlikely stage victory yesterday, when I needed a strong result to get into second place for the series, has to be the highlight accomplishment of my running career.

I will sign up for the Seven-Stage event as soon as registration opens. You should too!

Double Bellybuster wrote: Getting an unlikely stage victory yesterday, when I needed a strong result to get into second place for the series, has to be the highlight accomplishment of my running career.

Fantastic Dave!!! You ran the hell out of that race yesterday! Super impressed.

On the books for 2017:50th Birthday!!Boston Marathon- April 17th what a day- DREAM COME TRUE Run for Water 10K- May 28thScotia Half - June 25thTrail River Run half marathon- Sept. 30- CANCELLEDMEC 10K Race 10- Nov. 5